Day one is long, and the serious climbing comes late. From Ho Chi Minh City, the route first heads northeast through the dense urban edge, with traffic, wide roads and repeated stop-and-go sections. Beyond Biên Hòa, the built-up area starts to loosen, and the route continues through Đồng Nai, passing fields, small towns, plantations and longer straight stretches. Around Định Quán and the La Ngà River, the landscape becomes greener and more open. The ride then moves on toward Đạ Huoai and Đạ M’ri. The final kilometres bring the real change of the day: the road climbs out of the hot lowlands and up onto the highland plateau. Near Bảo Lộc, coffee and tea plantations begin to appear.
